Apparatus for treating pile fabrics



y 16, 4-. A. T. HERRON 2,349,169

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FILE FABRICS Filed Dec. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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May 16, 1944. A. T; HERRON APPARATUS FOR TREATING PILE mamas Filed Dec. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SUEDE [1B INVEN TOR.

A 7' TOR/V57 Patented May 16, 1944 OFFICE Alexander '1. Bench, Utica, N. Y. 4 7

Application December 15, 1942, Serial No. 469,075

" I 16 Claims. (01. 26-29) The present invention relates to a machine for finishing fabrics and moreparticularly for finishing of pile fabrics.

During the process of finishing pile fabrics it is' necessary that the pile be dressed. Thisdressing operation involves the brushing of the pile fibers so that they will be cleaned and freed from lint, so that they will all lie parallel to each other and so that the pile ultimately has the correct lay or angle. 7 v

To effect thisit has been customary heretofore in a known machine to utilize a series of oscillating brushes each of which moves back and forth over the fabric as the latter is moved past said brushes. The mechanism necessary for effecting such oscillatory motion is complicated and has the effect of slowing the speed of operation. Moreover, the oscillating motion of thebrushes, being intermittent, does not impart an even finish to the fabric pile.

A principal object of this invention is to providea machine that will effectively dress pile fabrics rapidly and efliciently, and produce pile fabric having an even finish.

A further object of this inventionis to provide I such a machine with brushing mechanism which does not require any oscillatory motion to effect the desired dressing of the pile fabric. The elimination of the necessity for oscillating motion is important in that the speed of operation of the'machine ismaterially increased since the slower moving parts ordinarily necessary for imparting oscillation alsoare eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to-provide a machine in which special provision is made to effect an even finish in the dressed pile fabrics. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine inwhich the fabric pile is subject to the action of independent sets of brushing means each of which moves in a single direction only, the said sets of brushing means actinggin falternation and one set moving in a direction op- DQsite to that of the other set.

Stillanother object of this invention is to provide mechanism in the machine for effecting p the required motion of said sets of brushing 'means.

- brushing means.

To the-accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear,

this'fnvention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and which show, merely for the purposes or illustrative disclosure, a preferred embodiment of'the invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims without digressof Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows adja-' cent to the delivery end oi. the machine.

Referring to the drawings l0 denotes a frame. A set of idler rollers I i are suitably supported from the frame III, for example, by. the bearing brackets l2 which are suitably attached to said frame. These idler rollers II are spaced from each other and extendparallelly from the front F tothe rear R of the frame ID. A. second set of idler rollers I3 is provided. The rollers l3 are each supported by vertically adjustable bearings M, Ma located respectively at the front and rear of the frame Ill. The idler rollers I3 are parallel with the idler rollers II and are normally positioned at a different or higher level than the latter, with one intermediate each adjacent pair of rollers II. The individually adjustable bearings l4, Ha are each capable of vertical motion which is controlled in any conventional manner, for example, by control members or handwheels I5, lia which in turn operate bolts I51), 150, the latter being threadedly engaged in fixed brackets l6, lfia. carried suitably by the frame |0,'so that each idler roller l3 may be adjusted vertically for a purpose to be presently des'cribed 'by manipulation of the-handwheels I5, l5a associated with the respective bearings ll, a. The idler rollers l3 preferably have their sur- "faces roughened at l3a either by the application of an abrasive or other rough coating to their surfaces, or by engraving the surfaces of these rollers or by otherwise suitably roughening them.

This roughening serves to prevent slippage in the axial direction of the rollers l3 of the pile I. fabric P being dressed in the machine under "and there sought to be deflnedin the appended 55 action of th brushing nieans'presently to be described.

A series of tension bars ll of conventional tensioning bars I! and alternately around the bottom and top surfaces of the respective idler rolls II and I3. From the last idler rollv I3 the emerging fabric is passed around suitable secondary 'dler rollers 20, 2| around an abrasivecovered or otherwise suitably roughened drag roller 22, around and over idler roller 23, the guide rollers 24, 25 around the folder drag roller 26, which also may be abrasive covered or otherwise suitably roughened, between the rollers 21, 28 of the folder 29 of conventional construction and thence out of the machine.

The secondary idler roller 20 is supported suitably by bearings 200, from the frame III. The various rollers 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 are supported in suitable bearings 2la, 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a and 2511 from the overhanging portion Illa of the frame I0.

The drag roller 22 and the folder drag roller 26, are both power driven in any conventional manner and serve to drag or pull the pile fabric P threaded as described through the machine. In the embodiment shown the two rollers 22, 26 are connected respectively by drive chain 3|, and crossed drive chain- 32 with a suitable sprocket or wheels 33 carried on and keyed or otherwise suitably fixed to a shaft 34. The shaft 34 is suitably supported in bearings 35 from the overhanging portion IOa of the frame. The folder 29 may be driven from the sprocket 33 by a suitablechain 36. A drive sprocket 31 also carried on and keyed or otherwise suitably fixed to shaft 34 is connected by suitable chain or the like 38 to a drive pulley carried on and keyed or otherwise fixed to a main drive shaft 40.

The main drive shaft 40 is supported in suitable bearings M from an upright portion "lb of the frame I0. It extends in parallelism with the rollers II and I3. This shaft 40 may be driven in any conventional manner. In the embodi ment shown it is driven by a suitable motor 4Ia having its drive pulley 42 connected by beltin 43 to a drive pulley 44 mounted on and keyed or otherwise suitably fixed to the main drive shaft 43. I

A set of parallelly arranged uprights 50 extend vertically from the frame In. These uprights carry suitable axially aligned bearings which in turn carry a shaft 52. The latter extends in the lengthwise direction of the frame Ill. These uprights also carry axially aligned bearings 53 (Fig. 3) which in turn carry a shaft 54 The latter is parallel with shaft 52.

The shaft 52 is adapted to be driven by th main drive shaft 40 for example by the meshing nate of the idler rollers I3 and with the last idler roller I3 adjacent to the delivery and of the machine, The shaft 54 carries similar belt puland arrangedrespec ively to lie in vertical alignment with the other alternate idler rollers I3. Thus a belt pulley 60 or 5| is in'vertical alignment with each idler roller I3. The pulleys $0 and GI rotate in opposite directions because of the opposite rotational direction of their respective supporting shafts 52 and 54.

The'uprights 50 also carry suitable sliding yokes- 63 each of which carries an axially aligned pair of slide bearings 64 at the rear portion of the frame I0. Adjacent pairs of bearings 64 each carry a short shaft 65 that extend in parallelism with the shafts 52 and 54. The slide bearings 64 are supported suitably for adjustable sliding action on the uprights 50 toward and away from the shafts 52, 54 so that the distances between shaft 65 and shafts 52 and 54 may be changed at will. The adjustment may be effected in any suitable way as by means of hand wheels 66 which leys fl keyed or otherwise suitably fixed thereto in turn operate bolts 61, the latter being threadedly engaged in yokes 63 carried on the uprights 50 and in rotatable engagement with the bracket 68. Looking studs 63a may be provided for the yokes. Any other suitable means for shifting the bearings 64 and with them the individual axles or shafts may be provided. The rear shaft is not continuous, but consists of a series of short shafts each supported by a pair of adjustable bearings 64. Each shaft 65 is, therefore, separately adjustable toward and away from shafts 52 and 54.

Pulleys 10 are provided one for each of the shafts 65. Each pulley I0 is freely rotatable on its shaft 55. They are arranged one in alignment with each of the pulleys 60, 6| on the shafts 52, 54. Endless belts or hands 'Il extend around pulleys 5B and the corresponding aligned pulleys I0. Similar endless bands I2 extend around pulleys SI and the corresponding aligned pulleys 10. The bands or belts II and 12 move in opposite directions because of the opposite direction of .rotation imparted to the respective pulleys Ell and BI by the respective shafts 52 and 54.

Brushes 15, 15a of any suitable type are carried respectively by the oppositely moving bands or belts II, 12. These brushes are attached in any suitable way to the respective bands and extend outwardly of the outer'surfaces of the carrier bands 60, 6|, They move with and in' the same directions as their respective carrier bands II, I2. The outer surfaces of these brushes are concave to conform approximately with the curvature of the pile fabric P passing around the respective idler rollers I3. While members I5, 150. are described as brushes, they may be any other means suitable for effecting the desired dressing action. Brushes or brushing means" as used in this application and claims is intended to cover such other means.

The bands or belts ll, 12 extend transversely of the direction of travel of the pile fabric P through the machine. They are so positioned that one lies over each of the idler rollers I3 and extends parallel therewith. The bands I I, 12 are in alternation so that as the pile fabric P passes through the machine and over the .varlous rollers I3, it is alternately brushed in one direction transverse to the movement through the machine by the brushes-on a band II and then in the opposite direction by the brushes on a band 12.

The last two bands (Figs. 1 and 3) in the ma-' chine bearing brushes I5 may be bands II stretched between pulleys 5! 'on the shaft 52 and corresponding pulleys II on shaft 55. Ii desired. these last twp bands may move in the could .ing means, moving in the same direction as the next preceding band 1|, driven of course by the same shaft 52. Additional bands II and associated pulleys could be added to get the correct lay or angle if needed, or the last band II c omitted entirely if desired with some pile .fabrics. v

The vertical adjustability of the idler rollers B through manipulation of the hand wheels l5, l5a permits adjustment of the pressure of the brushes 15, 15a. on the pile fabric and consequently the severity of the brushin action. The positioning of the idler rollers I withrespect to the rollers I3 is such that they direct the cloth over the latter rollers in such a way as to permit proper angle of e contac between the brushes 15, 15a and the Mg moving over rollers l3. They also insure cient circumferential contact between the fabric P and said rollers l3 that the roughened surfaces l3a prevent slippage along the rollers 13 in their axial directions during the action of brushes 15, 15a.

The adjustability' of the individual shafts 65 by manipulation of the hand wheels 66 serves to vary the tension on the belts or hands ll, 12 individually as desired.

A suitable protective shield 80 is provided for covering the gears 51, 58. This shield may be supported in any desired manner as from the last upright- 50 at the delivery end of the machine.

In the operation of the machine the pile fabric P which may be carpeting, velvet, or any other pile material is pulled through the machine under and over the various idler rollers I I and l3 to the delivery end E of the machine by the,

action ofdriven drag roller 22, assisted by the driven folder drag roller 26. In the-passage over the idler rollers IS, in alternation the fabric is subject to the brushing action of. the alternately arranged brushes 15, 15a carried onthe respectiveoppositely moving belts H, 12' whose directions of motion both are transverse to the di-. rection of motion of thepile fabric through the machine. In this way the pile fabric in itsprogress through the machine is brushed alternately in opposite transverse directions. aSince the level of rollers l3 may be individually adjusted by their respective hand wheels l5, 15a, the brushing pressure on the pile fabrioby brushes 15 or 15a under any particular belt I I, 12 may be regulated as desired.

On leaving the delivery end the pile fabric P after passing around and over the various rollers 20 to 26 inclusive may be folded'as at H by the conventional action of the folder 29 or otherwise disposed of. v 1

With the apparatus described, uniform brushopposite direction to that. of said first-named brushing means, supporting roller means in vertical alignment with each said brushing means and around which said pile fabric is curved in its movement through said apparatus, said first and second-named brushing means being positioned in alternation and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, each brushing member being curved on its brushing surface approximately to conform to the curve of the fabric passing thereunder, whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed while supported by said roller means in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus.

2. In apparatus of the character described, means for moving pile fabric through said appa ratus, continuously moving means for brushing said fabric in a direction tr'ansverse to its motion through said apparatus, continuously moving.

means for brushing said fabric in an opposite. direction to that of said first-named brushing means, and means for driving said first and secand-named continuously moving brushing means, supporting roller means in ,vertical alignment with each said brushing means and around which ing thereunder, whereby said pile fabric is alternately" brushed while supported by said roller means in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus. 1

3. In apparatus of the character described, means for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, continuously moving means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through .said apparatus, continuously moving means for brushing said fabric in an opposite direction, to that of said first-named brushing means, additional continuously moving means for brushing said fabric in the same direction as said first-named continuously moving means arranged adjacent to the last of'said first-named continuously moving brushing means, i and means for driving all of said continuously moving brushing means, -said first-and second-named brushing means being positioned in alternation, whereby said pile fabric is first alternately brushed in oppositedirections in its"'traverse-.through said machine and finally additionally by said thirdnamed brushing means in the same direction as by the first of said brushing means to give the fabric pile thecorrect lay or angle as it emerges from said apparatus.

ing is accomplished whose severity may be varied.

speed operation. While a specificembod ment of the invention has been described. variations The arrangement described is conducive to high in the structural detail is contemplated There ratus, means for brushing said. fabric in a dlrection transverse to its motion through said apparatus-and mean for brushing said fabric in an 4. In apparatus -01 the character described, means for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, a set of continuously drivable endless bands positioned to be driven transversely of the direction of motion of said fabric through said apparatus, a second set of continuously drivable endless bands positioned to be driven transversely of the direction of motion of said fabric through said apparatus and in an opposite direction to the bands of said first-named set,,brushing members attached to each of the bands of each set of bands, each said member being curved on its brushing surface approximately to conform with the curve of the fabric brushed thereby, and

means for driving the bands of each set in oppo site directions, supporting roller means in vertical alignment with each saidbrushing means and positioned to be driven transversely of. the direct on of motion of said fabric through said apparatus, a second set of continuously drivable endless bands positioned to be driven transversely of the direction of motion of said fabric through said apparatus and in an opposite direction to the bandsof said first-named set, brushing means attached to each of the bands of each set of bands, and means for driving the bands of each set in opposite directions, said bands of each set being positioned in alternation whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed in opposite directions by the brushing means on the respective bands in its movement through said apparatus, and the last two endless bands being of the same set, driven in the same direction, whereby the fabric pile is given the correct lay or angle as it emerges from said apparatus.

6. In apparatus of the character described, means for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supporting roller means in vertical alignment with each said brushing means and around which said pile fabric is curved in its movement through said apparatus, said first and secondnamed brushing means being positioned in alternation-and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, each brushing member being curved on its brushing surface approximately to conform to the curve of the fabric passing thereunder, whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed while supported by said roller means in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus, driving means and means for operating said fabric moving means and said brushing means from said driving means.

7. In apparatus of the character described,

means for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supporting roller means in vertical alignment witheach said brushing means and around whichsaid pile fabric is curved in its movement through said apparatus, said first and secondnamed brushing means being positioned in alter- .nation and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, each brushing member being curved on its brushing surface approximately to conform to the curve of the fabric passing thereunder, whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed while supported by said roller means'inopposite directions in its movement through said apparatus, means for folding or otherwise of the fabric emerging from said apparatus, driving means, and means for operating said fabric moving means, said brushing means and said folding or other disposing means from said driving means. i A

8. In apparatus of the character described, means for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supporting roller means in vertical ali ment with each said brushing means and around which said pile fabric is curved in its movement through said apparatus, said first and secondnamed means being positioned in alternation and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, each brushing member being curved on its brushing surface approximately to conform to the curve of the fabric passing thereunder, whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed while supported by said roller means in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus, and means for varying the brushing action of each said brushing means. 9. In apparatus of the character described, means for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, tensioning means for said fabric, means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through said apparatus, and means for brushing said fabric in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supporting roller means in vertical alignment with each said brushing means and around which said pile fabric is curved in its movement through said apparatus, said first and second-named brushing means being positioned in alternation and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, each brushing member being curved on its brushing surface approximately to conform to the curve of the fabric passing thereunder, whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed while supported by said roller means in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus.

10. In apparatus ,of the character described for dressing pile fabric or the like, a set of parallelly arranged idler rolls, a set of vertically adjustable idler rollers, one roller of saidlast-named set lying intermediate each adjacent pair of rollers of said first-named set, means for vertically adjusting the rollers of said second-named set, means for moving said fabric through said apparatus around said idler rollers, a set of endless bands positioned in parallelism with alternate of said adjustable rollers, a second set of endless bands positioned in parallelism with others of said adjustable rollers, means for driving said first-named set of bands in a determined direction transverse to the direction of motion of said fabric through said apparatus, means for driving said second set of bands in the opposite direction to that of said first-named set of bands, and brushing members carried by each band of each set of bands each adapted to brush the pile of said fabric as the latter passes around said vertically adjustable idler rollers, and each of said brushing members having a concave brushing surface shaped to approximately the curvature of .the fabric passing around said vertically adjustable rollers, whereby said pile is brushed alternately in opposite directions as it moves through said apparatus.

11. In apparatus of the character described for dressing pile fabric, means for moving pile motion through said apparatus, and means for V brushing said fabric'in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supporting roller means in alignment with each said brushing means and around'which said pile fabric is passed in its movement, through said appa-' ratus, said first and second-named brushing means being positioned in alternation and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, whereby said pile fabric while directly supported by said roller means is alternately brushed in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus.

12. In apparatus of the character described for dressing pile fabric, means'for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through said apparatus, and means for brushing said fabric in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supporting roller means in alignment with each said brushing 'means and around which said pile fabric is passed in its movement through said appa ratus, said first and second-named brushing means being positioned in alternation and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, each brushing member being shaped on its brushing surface approximately to conform to the shape assumed by the fabric passing thereunder, whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed while supported by said roller means in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus. a

13. In apparatus of the character described for dressing pile fabric, means for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supporting means in alignment with each said brushing means and over which said pile fabric is passed in its movement through said apparatus, said first and said second-named brushing means being positioned in alternation-and comprising endless bands and brushing members carriedby said bands, whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed while directly supported by said support ing means in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus, driving means and means for operating said fabric moving means and said brushing means from said driving means.

l4.'In apparatus of the character described for dressing pile fabric, means for movin'g pile fabric through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through said apparatus, means for brushing positioned in alternation and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, each aligned supporting roller means forming a positive support for the 'pile fabric passing thereover while the corresponding brushing means moves over said pile fabric whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed while supported by said roller means in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus and emerges with a pile having a uniform finish.

15. In apparatus of the character described for dressing pile fabric, means for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supporting roller means in alignment with each said brush- ,ing means and around which said pile fabric is ing said fabric in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supp rting roller means in alignment with each said brushing means and around which said pile fabric is passed in its movement through said apparatus, said firstand second-named brushing means bepassed in its movement through said apparatus, said first and second-named brushing means being positioned in alternation and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, each aligned supporting roller means forming a positive support for the pile fabric passing thereover while the corresponding brushing means moves over said pile fabric whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed while sup-' ported by said roller means in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus and emerges with a pile having a uniform finish, and roughening means on the surface of each said supporting roller means to prevent displacement of 'said pile fabric along the roller means during action of said brushing means.

-16. In apparatus of the character described, means for moving pile fabric through said apparatus, means for brushing said fabric in a direction transverse to its motion through said apparatus. and means for brushing said fabric in an opposite direction to that of said first-named brushing means, supporting roller means in alignment with each said brushing means and over which said pile fabric is passed in its movement through said apparatus, said first and second-named brushing means being positioned in alternation and comprising endless bands and brushing members carried by said bands, each brushing member acting on the pile fabric passing thereunder directly while the latter is on an aligned supporting roller means whereby the pressure applied by the brushing means is directly backed by said aligned supporting roller means during brushing and whereby said pile fabric is alternately brushed in opposite directions in its movement through said apparatus.

ALEXANDER T. HERRON. 

